Mayor Menino Launches Boston R.O.C.K.S!!! 2009
Released by Boston Centers for Youth and Families | For more information contact Sandy Holden
June 23, 2009
Mayor Thomas M. Menino today hosted a special kick-off of Boston R.O.C.K.S!!! 2009 at the North End’s Nazzaro Community Center to remind Boston families that the City of Boston has launched the Boston R.O.C.K.S!!! website and hotline for children and families still looking for summer programs and activities.
“Today, I am delighted to kick off the 2009 Boston R.O.C.K.S!!!,” said Mayor Menino. “This collaborative effort helps to ensure that all young people in Boston connect to positive opportunities in the summer. Our city agencies and community partners know that we need to engage our youth throughout the summer so that our kids can learn and grow so they can reach their full potential.”
Now in its third year, Boston R.O.C.K.S!!! (Recreational Opportunities for City Kids,) is a coordinated summer programming campaign aimed at connecting Boston youth with programs, activities and employment opportunities. In addition to highlighting expanded summer programming at City of Boston community centers and parks, the Boston R.O.C.K.S!!! website contains information from area youth-serving non-profits and provides a searchable database of programs.
The major components of Boston R.O.C.K.S!!! 2009 are: · A website (www.bostonyouthzone.com) and phone number (617-635-KIDS) which parents, guardians, youthworkers and others can use to find summer programs across the city. The number of programs currently listed is over 900.
· Targeted outreach efforts to reach young people who will not use traditional methods to find programs.
· The creation of new programs to “fill in the blanks.” These programs are tweaked each summer to ensure providers are reaching as many youth as possible and providing activities they want to participate in. This summer’s R.O.C.K.S!!! programs include the return of the popular “R.O.C.K. ‘N Splashes every Wednesday night at a different Boston Centers for Youth & Families’ pool; Boston R.O.C.K.S!!! Out, daily drop-in programming at nine locations and the new “R.O.C.K. the Park” daily drop-in activities at four parks.
· R.O.C.K.S!!! grants totaling $340,000 to 71 youth service agencies who will provide programs for Boston youth in community centers and parks.
This event also highlighted positive job opportunities for young people and the many public/private partnerships that support a safe summer experience. North End youth, Tia Bevilacqua opened the program and spoke of the rewards of her job at the Nazzaro Community Center and introduced BCYF Executive Director, Daphne Griffin. Lisa Owens spoke on behalf of the many community non-profits who receive grants through Boston R.O.C.K.S!!! to run programs at community centers and parks across the city.
Daphne Griffin, Executive Director of BCYF, the lead agency for Boston R.O.C.K.S!!! said “We all know that safe, enriching and engaging activities help young people to stay on the right track. We are making every effort to provide programs to help Boston’s families to enjoy a fun and stress-free summer.”
The Boston R.O.C.K.S!!! website includes all the summer programs offered by the City of Boston such as ParkArts; free concerts; “Boston R.O.C.K.S!!! Out” and “R.O.C.K. the Park” free summer day programs as well as hundred of programs offered by Boston non-profits. These programs are listed at www.bostonyouthzone.com/summer. At this website, young people can find information about summer programs, events, jobs and volunteering, and much more. Families can also access these same resources by calling 617-635-KIDS (5437).